My Top Ten Colorado Sports Events for 2019

The Avalanche and local football teams gave me the most thrills in 2019 for sports events of the year, with some baseball and basketball thrown in. My top 10 list:

Number 10:

12/21 University of Colorado Basketball: Colorado 78 Dayton 76.  The most recent entry on my list: De'Shawn Swartz sinks a 3 point basket at the buzzer to give the Buffs the win over 13th rank Dayton.  It was the highest ranked team CU had beaten on the road since 1990 when the Buffs beat 6th ranked Missouri.

Number 9:

9/28 Rockies 3 Brewers 2 In the second to last game of the season, the Rockies win a tight game all the way with some great plays on both sides.  The Rockies were one out away from a loss when rookie Sam Hilliard hits a game tying home run, then Trevor Story wins it with a walkoff in the bottom of the 10th.  It was a disappointing season for the Rockies but they ended in style with a 3 game sweep of the Brewers (the team they lost to in the 2018 playoffs) depriving Milwaukee a chance for first place in the NL Central Division.

Number 8:

11/3 Broncos 24 Browns 19 Free agent quarterback Brandon Allen, in his first start, leads the Broncos to the win.  Rookie tight end Noah Fant has a break out game including a 75 yard td (the longest bronco td of the season)

Number 7:

4/27 Nuggets 90 Spurs 86 - Nuggets win a game 7 playoff series at home, the first game 7 home game for the franchise in 41 years.

Number 6:

9/21 University of Colorado football: buffs beat arizona state on the road 34-31, their first road win over a nationally ranked top 25 team since 2002!  This despite losing their best offensive player (laviska shenault) and their best defensive player (Mustafa Johnson) early in the game due to injuries.

Number 5:

5/7 avs 4 sharks 3 game 6 of the series: avs on the brink of elimination win in OT to force game 7.  While the Avs ended up losing the series in game 7 the game 6 win was one of the best avalanche games in the last 10 years.  This would have been ranked #2 on this list had the Avs won game 7.

Number 4:

12/8 Broncos beat the Houston Texans 38-24 on the road with rookie quarterback Drew lock throwing for 3 tds and 309 yards. The Texans had defeated the New England Patriots the week before so this shaped up as a tough road game for the Broncos. Could the Broncos have their quarterback of the future?  This game showed Lock could be the man!

Number 3:

4/17 Avalanche 3 Flames 2 - trailing 2-0 in the 3rd period the Avs come back to win in overtime to take a 3-1 series lead! This game essentially clinched the series for the Avs as they won the next game easily to win the series.

Number 2:

4/13 Avalanche 3 Flames 2 - #8 seeded Avalanche tie the series 1-1 over #1 seed Calgary in Calgary with a thrilling overtime win after being down 1-0 with 7 minutes to go in the 3rd period.

Number 1:

9/7 University of Colorado football: Buffs beat rival Nebraska 34-31 in overtime after trailing 17-0 at halftime.  An incredible comeback highlighted by a 96 yard flea flicker TD from the shadow of their own end zone, and several clutch completions by QB Steven Montez towards the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.  The Buffs don't play the Huskers too often anymore.  It was great to sweep the 2 game series winning at Nebraska in 2018 and with this home win in 2019!

Rich Jackson at the Denver Broncos QB Club

"I don't want to play pro football.  I want to get a degree and get a job."  That's what All-Pro Denver Broncos defensive end Rich Jackson told the Cleveland Browns when he was drafted in the NFL.  Jackson told this story and many others  to a Denver Broncos Quarterback Club breakfast group today.Jackson turned down the NFL, finished his degree, and then got a graduate degree before considering the NFL. 

Lucky for the Broncos an Oakland Raiders scout convinced him to try out for the Raiders and Jackson finally relented. Later traded by Oakland to the Broncos for Lionel Taylor, Jackson went on to become the first Bronco named to the NFL All Pro team in 1970.  He had 10 sacks in the 1968 and 1970 seasons, and 11 sacks in 1971. The late Paul Zimmerman, who covered the NFL for decades for Sports Illustrated, named Jackson to his All Century Team in 1999.  "In his prime," Zimmerman wrote, "he was the very best run-pass defensive end the game has seen."

Jackson told us about his high school days.  "I wanted to play running back, not the defensive line. The coach put me on the d-line."  Jackson was an excellent athlete.  "I always kept myself in shape. I ran a 9.8 100 yard dash in track, and that speed carried over to football.  I could bench press 555 pounds."

Jackson said he was told by the Raiders at 3 am one morning he was traded to the Broncos.  "I drove non-stop from Oakland to Denver," he said, "I had never seen mountains or snow until I got to Denver."

Jackson showed us the same mild mannered personality off the field as he had in his playing days.  But on the field he was a terror. Sacking quarterbacks was his favorite activity.  "I loved to make love to the quarterback," he said.  "Teammate Paul Smith and I used to say we are going to pray at the quarterback.  That was church for us." Also known for his vicious head slap move, Jackson told us he'd look in the stands for the parents of the offensive tackle he was facing. "I wanted to see them cry."

Jackson related how he was disappointed the Broncos traded away two talented defensive linemen during his time in Denver.  "Curly Culp was just what the Chiefs needed when we traded him to KC.  Alden Roche was our second round draft choice, but then we traded him to Green Bay where he played for the Packers and Seahawks for eight more years.  I disagreed with some of the moves but I focused on being the best I could be on the field."

"I hope I gave you something nice to look at," Jackson said as a message to Bronco fans everywhere.  He certainly did.  The Broncos were not a good team in the late 60's and early 70's but stars like Jackson and Floyd Little gave the fans something to cheer about. 

For more on Jackson's careeer watch this excellent short video from NFL Films:

My 2019 Bronco predictions

Before the Broncos season starts I like to predict their record.  Here we go with this year's predictions:

week 1 @ Oakland 

Win - the game tonight will tell a lot about the 2019 Broncos.  The offense has been under wraps in the preseason - how effective will the Broncos offense be under new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello?  How will Joe Flacco do after very limited action in the preseason?  How will the offensive line hold up?  Will it be better under new offensive line coach Mike Munchak?  The offense has the biggest questions marks.

On defense there's no doubt the Broncos pass rush will be good, with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb forming the best pass rush duo in the league. The inside linebackers are a question mark.  I'll be watching how the Broncos limit the Raiders running game.  Forcing the Raiders to pass, with the Broncos strong rush and good secondary and with Raider QB Derek Carr prone to mistakes, will be the key to the defense tonight.

I initially was going to call this game a Raider win (it'll be a tough environment tonight with this being the last season opener in Oakland before the move to Las Vegas next year).  And the Raiders are a stronger team this year with adding players from three first round draft picks and some key free agent signings.  But with the Antonio Brown circus in the past week I now pick the Broncos.  The Raiders will miss Brown in their passing attack.

week 2 Chicago

Win - the Bears almost made the Super Bowl last year so this will be another good test.  The Broncos are always tough to beat at home, though, and Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky was shaky in the season opener.  I think former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will come up with a good game plan to beat his former team.

week 3 @ Green Bay 

Loss - It's tough to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Lambeau.

week 4 Jacksonville

Win - This game got a lot easier with Jaguars starting QB Nick Foles out for a few weeks with a broken collar bone.  Jacksonville has a good defense, but Vic Fangio's Bronco defense should shut the Jaguars down with the Broncos offense producing enough points for the win.

week 5@ Los Angeles 

Loss - The Broncos had a surprise win here last season.  Not this year.

week 6 Tennessee 

Win - This will be one of those swing home games.  Tennessee on paper is probably the better team, but I think the home field advantage gives the Broncos the win.

week 7 Kansas City 

Loss - The home field won't save the Broncos this year against the Chiefs.  I do expect a close game like the Broncos gave the Chiefs last year.

week 8 @ Indianapolis

Loss - Historically the Broncos have never played well in Indianapolis.  The Colts have a strong team even with the loss of QB Andrew Luck.

week 9 Cleveland

Win - The Broncos lost at home to the Browns last year.  Not this year.

week 10 Bye

week 11 @ Minnesota

Loss - this along with the Green Bay game will be the Broncos toughest road test out of the division.  I hope I'm wrong with this pick as this is the game I will be in attendance for my annual Bronco road trip.

week 12 @ Buffalo

Win - another swing game.  Playing a late season game in Buffalo is always difficult.  I'm betting on Vic Fangio's Bronco defense getting some turnovers against the inexperienced Bills QB Josh Allen

week 13 Los Angeles

Win - a big victory against a tough divisional opponent keeps the Broncos in the playoff race.

week 14 @ Houston 

Loss

week 15 @ Kansas City

Loss

Two difficult late season road games knock the Broncos out of playoff contention.

16 Detroit

Win

17 Oakland 

Win

The Broncos close out the season on a high note with two wins against weaker opponents.

Overall record: 9 wins 7 losses, no playoffs but signs of improvement heading into 2020.

How did I get Bronco season tickets in a prime location? A series of fortunate events!

That's me with my son Andrew Monday night at the new location for two of my Denver Bronco season tickets - a prime viewing spot in the West Stands on the 30 yard line!  Here's a view of game action from my seats:

To the right of us in our section I noticed a large group wearing jerseys with "Lock" name labels on their backs.  "That's Drew Lock's Dad and family," Andrew said, showing me a picture on his phone of the elder Lock he had looked up on the internet.  "And there's Dalton Risner's parents to the left." Andrew had noticed the Bronco rookie offensive lineman, Dalton Risner, waving to an elderly couple wearing "Risner" jerseys.  "How in the world did I luck into such good seats - in the same area where the players' families sit??!!!" I thought to myself.  I then remembered a series of "fortunate events" that brought me to this moment, events spanning back over 60 years that I had no control over!

Event 1: My Mom's Rheumatic Fever

I come from an Italian-American family.  My Grandparents on both sides immigrated from Italy, and settled in the New York/New Jersey area of the country.  "Larison doesn't sound Italian," you may think.  That's another story (my Dad changed his last name from Lasaracino in his 20's)

There was no motivation for my family ever to move from New Jersey except for one unfortunate reason - my Mom's repeated bouts with Rheumatic Fever.  "You have to move to a dry climate," her doctor said, to avoid another occurrence of the disease.  And that's why my family moved to the high and dry climate of Denver in 1959, the same year a local football team named "The Broncos" was founded.

Had my Mom not contracted Rheumatic Fever I'd still be living in New Jersey, probably as a NY Jets fan, or worse, as a NY Giants fan!  The chances of me getting season tickets to the NY football Giants??  Slim and none!  That franchise had an established fan base going back decades.

Event 2: The Kennedy Assassination

I don't mean to make light of the assassination of our nation's 35th President.  Yet this tragedy indirectly led to my beginnings as a Bronco fan.  You see, my Dad had a co-worker who was distraught about the assassination.  This co-worker was in no mood to attend a football game a few days later on Thanksgiving Day 1963.  So he gave his tickets to my Dad for the Denver Broncos/Oakland Raiders game that day - good sideline seats too!  Dad brought me and my brother Dave to the game (the Broncos would not have another Thanksgiving home game until 2009).  It was my first Bronco game ever.

As a 7 year old, I don't remember much about the game.  I do remember Bronco rookie running back Billy Joe.  My 7 year old brain questioned - is his name Billy or Joe??  But I also remembered the excitement of the crowd.  I begged Dad to take me again to a game!

Event 3: Watching Games from "The Hill"


My Dad was good about bringing my brother and I to sports events occasionally - we were in the stands when the Broncos beat the Jets 16-13 in 1965 (Joe Namath's rookie year).  My Dad had no interest in getting Bronco season tickets, though (raising a family with 5 kids on his Martin Marietta salary, he watched his money closely).  How would my brother Dave, my friend Greg, and I get to experience more Bronco football?  That's where "The Hill" comes in:

As pictured in the circled area above, the home of the Broncos - Bears Stadium which later would become Mile High Stadium - had a gap between the West and South stands.  We figured out from this vantage point ("The Hill" was a name we made up) we could see 3/4ths of the field and watch Bronco home games for free!  So we had my Dad drop us off at the stadium where we would watch most Bronco home games from 1965-1967 from our cherished "Hill" location.  And we discovered that the Broncos would open the gates and let everyone in the stadium with about 6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter of games.  Watching games from "The Hill" for three and a half quarters, and from inside the stadium for the rest worked for us!

Event 4: My Brother's Friend Bill Wants Season Tickets

The thought of buying Bronco season tickets never occurred to me until in 1968 when my brother's friend Bill suggested to Dave that they get season tickets together in the South Stands.  Not wanting to miss out on the fun, my friend Greg said "why don't we get season tickets, too?"  The problem: my Dad wasn't going to pay for me to get a season ticket.  Though I would jump at the chance of buying a Bronco season ticket, how would I afford it on the meager $25 I had in savings?

Event 5: The Broncos Offer a $2/game Kids Ticket

Greg and I learned that the Broncos in 1968 offered a $2 per game ticket in the end zone for kids 12 and under.  Being age 12 at the time, that worked for Greg and I!  So for a lofty sum of $14 (7 home games were included in the season ticket) I bought one single season ticket - my seat was next to my friend Greg's.  We sat in the middle of the South Stands (row 39, seats 23 and 24).  Back in 2009 I wrote a blog post about all those memorable years with my South Stands seats, you can read it here: "Growing Up In The South Stands"

In 1968 the Broncos didn't include the preseason games in their season ticket package.  Greg and I still wanted to go to preseason games, so we returned to "The Hill" to watch the preseason home games for free before attending regular season games in our South Stands seats.

At one preseason game a guy with a local youth organization was giving out tickets to give low income kids a chance to attend a Bronco home game.  Before one preseason game he saw Greg and I on "The Hill" and gave me two tickets to get us into the stadium to watch the game.  Little did he know he was giving complementary tickets to a 12 year old Broncos season ticket holder!

I think back on how fortunate the timing of all this was.  The Broncos had that $2/game kids ticket in 1968.  Just two years later there was no "kids ticket" (I would have been too old to qualify for it anyway).  And two years later the entire stadium was sold out with season tickets - a sellout streak that continues to this day.

Event 6: My Friend Greg Tires of the Broncos

Oh those were fun years watching Bronco home games from the South Stands, especially the miracle 1977 season where the Broncos surprised the NFL by going to their first Super Bowl.  By the early 80's, though, my friend Greg tired of going to Bronco games.  So I bought the rights to his season tickets (you could do that back then).  Now I was the proud owner of two Bronco season tickets!  I attended many Bronco home games through the 80's, 90's, and up until the new stadium opened in 2001 in my two South Stand seats. It was nice through my good fortune to be able to give a friend or a family member the chance to attend a Bronco game with me over those years.

Event 7: Coors Field Opens in 1995

Coors Field?  What's that have to do with the Broncos?  Well Coors Field introduced the luxury seating concept of a "club level".  I'm not just a Bronco fan, but a fan of all Denver sports teams, so I bought a share of club level season tickets (20 games) for the Rockies that inaugural season .  For one club level game I brought my friend Jeff who I worked with.  Jeff was blown away by the club level - "this is the way I like to watch a game!" he said.

Jeff also owned two Bronco season tickets.  When the new Bronco stadium opened in 2001 he wanted to get club level seats.   Problem was - the Broncos were selling club level seats to anybody - you couldn't transfer your current season tickets to the club level.

I was able to hook up Jeff with another friend of mine, a rancher from southern Colorado, and together they bought two club level seats.  Jeff, being thankful I set him up with a Broncos club level partner, sold me the rights to his two sideline Bronco tickets located around the 5 yard line.  Now I was the owner of four Bronco season tickets! (my original two in the end zone upper deck, and two on the 5 yard line lower level)

Event 8 - My Friend David Buys Full Seasons of Bronco Tickets

I had another friend, David, who was interested in getting Bronco tickets of his own.  I wasn't sure I would use all four of my season tickets (especially since they were located in different areas of the stadium).  David said he'd buy a full season of Bronco tickets from me, which he did!  I sold him my 5 yard line seats from 2001 until this past season.  But that was soon to change ...

Event 9 - Broncos hire Vance Joseph

The Broncos have gone through two bad seasons after the hiring of Vance Joseph as head coach with a record of 11 wins 21 losses over his two seasons.  Thankfully the Broncos have moved on from Vance Joseph but that didn't stop my friend David of tiring of going to Bronco games.  "They'll be lucky to win 3 games this season," David said in telling me he no longer wanted to buy a season's worth of tickets from me.

That left me with two end zone seats and two seats on the 5 yard line as season tickets.  I decided to keep the lower level seats for another year and use the extras for family and friends.

Event 10 - Broncos Allow Seat Upgrades Online -  Bingo!

Every season since 2002 I had tried to upgrade the 2 seats I had on the 5 yard line to be more midfield.  No luck.  When the upgrade process came along there was nothing available.  This year, however, was different.

I logged on to the Broncos site exactly when upgrades became available for my seats.  My upper deck end zone seats were fine - nothing close to an improvement was available for those seats.  My lower level 5 yard line seats were different.  The seating map showed two seats available on the 30 yard line, West Side.  There was NOTHING available otherwise until the 5 yard line.

I grabbed those two 30 yard line seats.  Bingo!  Now I have two pairs of Bronco season tickets - one pair in a prime corner end zone location in the second deck and another pair on the 30 yard line in the lower level.  Had a waited just a few minutes longer those 30 yard line seats would likely have been taken by someone else.

Unlike my friends Greg and David I will NEVER tire of going to Bronco games, even if they win two games this year.  I plan on keeping these season tickets!

Daniel Graham at the Denver Broncos QB Club

Daniel Graham's stellar career as a tight end at the University of Colorado and later the NFL almost didn't happen."In my freshman year in high school I played football for the first time," Daniel told a full house at today's Denver Broncos Quarterback Club luncheon. "I hated it! I quit football after that year," Daniel said.

Lucky for the University of Colorado and the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and New Orleans Saints (all teams Daniel played for) the star tight end gave football another try in his sophomore year thanks to a new coach. Daniel went on to star in Denver's Thomas Jefferson high school.  At the University of Colorado he built on his success. In 2001 he was a unanimous first-team All-American and won the John Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end in helping the Buffs to a 10-3 record, Big 12 Championship and appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.  Drafted by New England, he later won two Super Bowls as a member of the Patriots.

"The highlight of my career was beating #1 Nebraska 62-36.  That win was even better than the Super Bowl victories.  The Huskers have never been the same since," Daniel told us.  He credits the CU tight ends coach at the time, Jon Embree, for his success.  "Embree taught me how to block.  I became the best blocker on every team I played on," Daniel said.

After starting his NFL career with the Patriots, Graham played for the Broncos from 2007-2010, catching passes from Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, and Tim Tebow.  "Kyle Orton was a great game manager.  Jay Cutler had the strongest arm of any quarterback I played with.  Cutler's downfall was Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall.  Instead of getting other players involved in the passing game Cutler would target Marshall all the time.  Marshall was the most talented player I ever played with, but Cutler would have been more effective to spread the ball around to his other receivers."

Graham told us he played some quarterback in high school, and with the New Orleans Saints he was the 3rd string "emergency quarterback".  While with the Saints in one game the first two quarterbacks got hurt and Graham almost got in the game.  "The scariest moment of my career," Daniel related.  The second string quarterback eventually recovered and was able to finish the game, sparing Graham of his moment as an NFL quarterback.  Still Graham joked, "I was a better quarterback than Tim Tebow."

Why did Josh McDaniels fail in Denver?  "He tried to make the Broncos the Denver Patriots.  It didn't work," Daniel said.  He described Patriots coach Bill Belichick as very tough. "We would win by 30 points, but the way Bill yelled at us on Monday morning it was like we lost by 20," he said.  McDaniels tried bringing the same approach to the Broncos but the players weren't ready for it.

Daniel's Dad, the late Tom Graham, was a linebacker for the Broncos in the early 70's.  "I never saw film of my Dad playing until I signed with the Broncos," Daniel told us.  He described his Dad as quite the player. "In his last game with the Oregon Ducks he had 40 tackles."  Daniel grew up in Denver and described he and his brother as die hard Bronco fans in their youth.

After his talk and question and answer session with the fans of the QB Club, Daniel was gracious in signing autographs.  He also let fans hold his two Patriot Super Bowl rings and he posed for many pictures.  It was an enjoyable afternoon of hearing stories from Graham's playing days and getting the chance to meet him in person!

Steve Atwater at the Denver Broncos Quarterback Club

"I'm thrilled to be back in Colorado.  It was an honor to have played here," said Broncos Ring of Famer Steve Atwater to a standing room only crowd at this month's Denver Broncos Quarterback Club meeting.

Atwater opened his remarks with some comments on the current Broncos.  "The two biggest differences from last year will be better coaching and improved quarterback play," Atwater said.  He feels that last year's coaching staff didn't get the most out of Case Keenum.  "The offensive play calling could have been more creative.  Case is good at play action passes but the team hardly used him in that role."

Atwater thinks highly of new head coach Vic Fangio.  "He has great rapport with the team and he loves football.  The players would run through a brick wall for him," Steve said.  "I didn't see the passion from some of the players last year.  We will see it this year."

Atwater questions if Kareem Jackson is the right fit at safety after seeing Jackson primarily at that position in minicamp.  "He's a good player but he's not a big guy.  I don't know if that'll work against the bigger running backs in the AFC West."

And Atwater knows what it's like to be a big safety laying heavy hits on the opposition.  His nickname was the "Smiling Assassin" in his playing days.  "Charlie Waters, my first defensive backs coach with the Broncos, gave me that nickname," Steve said.  Waters, as a former all pro safety, and teammate Dennis Smith were good mentors to him when he first got into the league. "I did everything Charlie said."

Asked about his legendary hit on the Chiefs Christian Okoye Atwater said "It was a clean hit.  Neither of us got hurt.  Bo Jackson was tougher to tackle."

After his talk Atwater graciously met with all the Quarterback Club members in attendance, talking football, signing autographs, and taking pictures.  QB Club members left the meeting excited about the upcoming season!

Future Quarterback Club meetings this Fall will feature a game watch party with Randy Gradishar and more!  See our website for more information.

Chad Brown at the Denver Broncos QB Club

"That INCOMPLETE chant really pisses you off!" said Chad Brown at our Denver Broncos Quarterback Club meeting today when asked what it was like to play the Broncos at Mile High Stadium as a visiting player.  "The altitude gives the Broncos a big advantage, too," Chad added.

Yes, Chad Brown never played for the Broncos in his 15 year NFL career, but now in the media as a college football analyst and sometimes radio host on Denver's 104.3 The Fan, Chad provided unique insight into the current state of the Broncos.  Chad added some comments about his alma mater, the University of Colorado's football team, too.

Chad gave a review of the Broncos offseason.  "Was moving on from Vance Joseph a good move?  Yes.  I feel bad for my former CU teammate, and I think he'll do better if given another chance at a head coaching job.  He learned the hard way the difference between being a coordinator and the head coach.  'I had no idea I'd be talking to the media so much!' Vance told me."

Chad feels Vic Fangio will be an improvement.  "With Fangio's background coaching linebackers expect to see Von Miller and Bradley Chubb used in more creative ways," he said.

Chad says Joe Flacco will be a significant upgrade at quarterback.  Flacco will make less mistakes than Case Keenum did last year.  He likes Drew Lock's potential, but said he liked last year's quarterback class taken in the first round better than this year's qb crop.

The most impactful change in the Broncos this season, Chad said, will be the addition of a top notch offensive line coach (Mike Munchak).  "I think the Garett Bowles experiment at left tackle will last one more year - let's see if Bowles improves under Munchak," Chad said.  He said Seattle, a past NFL team he had been a part time coach for, really improved their offensive line play in the Seahawks Super Bowl years with the coaching of Tom Cable even though their offensive line talent was mediocre.  Munchak can have a similar impact with the Broncos.

On #1 draft choice tight end Noah Fant. Chad said Fant has a big upside but has to learn to be an adequate blocker.  Otherwise the defense will know a pass is coming whenever Fant is in the game.  Chad mentioned Bronco Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe who like Fant was a great receiver and who learned to be an average blocker.  Fant needs to do the same.

On #2 draft choice Dalton Risner: "He has his head screwed on straight.  He really gave me as impressive an interview as I have had with a NFL rookie in the last 10 years.  He will be a force inside and can play multiple positions on the line.  I don't think he has the feet to play left tackle"

In addition to commenting on the Broncos other draft choices and free agents, Chad took questions from the crowd.  I asked him if he would have taken Michigan linebacker Devin Bush at pick #10 in the first round rather than trading back like the Broncos did.  "I would have taken Bush," Chad said.  He went on to say the inside linebacker position is not one of the Broncos strengths.  He does think Su'a Cravens has the talent to be a 3rd down linebacker "he was tremendous at USC" but Cravens has to show more dedication to the game than he did last season.

Chad had high praise for the Broncos strength and conditioning coach Loren Landow. "I was Landow's first pro client," Chad said.  "I wouldn't have played 15 years in the NFL without his guidance."

Overall while Chad thinks the Broncos have improved this offseason with the coaching changes and player moves, he still rates Kansas City and the LA Chargers ahead of the Broncos going into the season.  Frank Clark, the new Chiefs defensive end acquired from the Seahawks is a "tremendous player" Chad said and Clark could be a matchup nightmare for Garett Bowles.

Chad had a few comments about the CU Buffs.  New head coach Mel Tucker "will have the Buffs play far more physical which will fit well in the Pac 12.  Only Stanford and Washington emphasize physical play in that conference," he said.  Chad feels Tucker wants to win games with solid defense and a strong run game.  "The offensive line will be more physical, and the defense will be more attacking."

Chad had high praise for former CU coach Bill McCartney. "Bill is such a great speaker, you can imagine the impact he had on me as a 17 year old kid when he visited me and my parents.  He promised a lot that day (I would play for a national championship, I would play in the NFL, that I would love the CU campus and living in Colorado).  Everything he said came true! Bill truly believed in what he was telling me - it wasn't BS."

Chad also greatly admires his past CU linebackers coach - Brian Cabral.  He told a story that when he was struggling with grades early in his time at CU, Cabral broke into Chad's apartment, stood over Chad's bed, and said, "get to class!"  Cabral emphasized a personal relationship with his players, "he really cared about us."  In Chad's part time coaching (Chad was leaving the next day for a part time coaching gig with the San Francisco 49'ers) Chad said "I want to be like Brian Cabral"

I was very impressed with Chad Brown this day.  While sadly he was never a Denver Bronco, with his wealth of NFL playing experience and part time coaching he is one of the best analysts I have heard speak to our club.

Next up for the Denver Broncos QB Club: Ring of Famer Steve Atwater will speak to us at a lunch meeting in July.  Stay tuned for an announcement!

Louie Wright at the Denver Broncos QB Club

"Whatever a team does good, we'll take it away." - Joe Collier

Louie Wright shared that quote in front of a packed house at the Denver Broncos Quarterback Club meeting on Saturday.  "Collier was an innovative defensive genius," Wright said of his former defensive coordinator.  Patriots coach Bill Belichick was an assistant under Collier for two years.  "I see Belichick using a lot of Joe Collier's strategies with the Patriots," said Louie.

This was one of many interesting stories and insights Wright shared with the long time Bronco fans of the QB Club.  What were some of Wright's most memorable plays?

In the Broncos 30-7 win over the Oakland Raiders in the magical 1977 season Wright intercepted Ken Stabler to make the score 27-7, virtually clinching a victory over the hated Raiders.  "I was out of position on that play," Wright said.  "I play on the left side of the field.  I misread Cliff Branch's route and ended up on the right side.  Stabler didn't see me so I was able to pick off his pass."

Another highlight was Wright's return of a blocked field goal for an overtime TD vs the Chargers in 1985.  "Dennis Smith said in the huddle he thought he could block the field goal so I was ready," Wright relates.  "And that's what happened.  Dennis Smith blocks the field goal and I pick it up expecting to run for a score.  But the refs stop me and say 'Denver called timeout' negating the play.  'Who called timeout???!!!' we asked in the huddle.  Mike Harden quietly said, 'I did - coach Reeves asked me to'  No problem for Dennis Smith as he blocked the kick a second time and I ran it in for a TD - this time it counted!"

Who was the toughest receiver you played against?

"John Jefferson of the Chargers.  He was only with the Chargers a few seasons and then was traded to the Packers in a contract dispute.  But when he was with the Chargers he was extremely tough to cover."

What wide receiver talked the most during a game?

"Charlie Joyner of the Chargers.  It wasn't trash talk, though.  He'd say 'how's the family Louie?' and other personal stuff.  I thought 'shut up - let's just play!'"

In his 12 year Bronco career Wright played for John Ralston two years, Red Miller four years, and Dan Reeves six years.  "Ralston was a good talent evaluator.  Miller was totally different - Red was real intense and that carried over to the players.  The first team meeting Red had with us he said 'we are going to kick the raiders' ass!!  We are not going to take shit from anybody!!'  That got us fired up and that's what football is all about.  Reeves was more of a tactician in the Tom Landry mode - he wanted to out scheme the other team.  All three were good coaches in different ways."

Wright told us how he actually quit football to concentrate on track only while in college at San Jose State.  Then in the offseason there was a coaching change at San Jose State.  One of the new coaches watched Louie workout for the track team and afterwards asked Louie, "You've played football in the past, want to give it another try?"  Fortunately for the Broncos Louie said yes, and his later play for San Jose State made him the Broncos #1 draft choice in the 1975 draft.

Louie told these stories and more to our Broncos QB Club group.  Afterwards he was very gracious in signing autographs and talking to fans one to one.  It was another great meeting for the QB Club!

Broncos QB Musings (Keenum and Flacco)

Joe Flacco will replace Case Keenum as the broncos starting quarterback for the 2019 season.  Is this a good move?  I think so.

When I visited Broncos training camp for my first look at Keenum last season I wrote:

"New QB Case Keenum is impressive.  He was very accurate with his passes this day, and showed better touch on his deep ball than I expected."

The problem was once the games started Keenum wasn't accurate.  When I saw Keenum overthrow receivers in preseason games I thought "it must be nerves.  Case was an accurate passer last season with the Vikings and from what I saw at training camp."  But Keenum's accuracy problems continued into the regular season (most notably missing a wide open Demaryius Thomas in the waning seconds of the Kansas City Monday night game which would have given the Broncos a win).

Flacco, on the other hand, has shown to be an accurate passer with a stronger arm than Keenum.  In the Broncos/Ravens 2012 season divisional playoff game Flacco is well known for completing a 70 yard bomb to Jacoby Jones with 38 seconds remaining to send that game into overtime (a game the Ravens won in route to a Super Bowl victory). That Bronco game was one of the coldest I have ever attended, but the frigid temperatures didn't bother Flacco (3 TD passes on the day).  

I also remember a Flacco incompletion that displayed his accuracy.  In the 2015 season opener the Broncos were clinging to a 19-13 lead in the last minute when Flacco threw a bullet to wide receiver Steve Smith into tight coverage in the corner of the north end zone (right below my seats).  Smith dropped the pass.  "Whew!" I remember saying, thinking that Flacco almost pulled off another last minute comeback against the Broncos.  Had Denver lost that game it may have cost them the Super Bowl, as one more loss would have meant the AFC Championship would have been played in New England instead of Denver (the home field advantage was big in giving the Broncos a victory over the Patriots that day)

Flacco is a better quarterback than Keenum, the transaction only cost the Broncos a 4th round draft choice, and the Broncos received some salary cap relief by trading Keenum.  Whether Flacco will be the Broncos quarterback beyond 2019 remains to be seen, but for this season the Flacco for Keenum swap was a good move.

Randy Gradishar at the Bronco QB Club

Old School Football!  That's what Randy Gradishar's talk to the Denver Broncos QB Club this afternoon reminded me of as Randy told stories of his football career.  And what a career it was! Some of Randy's accomplishments:

* 7 time Pro Bowler

* 2 time First Team All Pro

* 3 time Second Team All Pro

* 1978 NFL Defensive Player of The Year

In addition to these amazing statistics, Randy is a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, and was a leader of the famed Orange Crush defense of the 1970's!  

In front of a standing room only QB Club lunch crowd, Randy related how he grew up in Champion, Ohio.  "My Dad owned the town's grocery store," Randy said.  "I didn't start playing football until 9th grade."

Randy drew the attention of college recruiters with his exploits in high school football.  "Woody Hayes (legendary Ohio State coach) came to my high school to talk to me.  I didn't know who Woody Hayes was!  Woody asked what my father did, and I then took him to my Dad's grocery store.  Woody and Dad ended up talking for 1 1/2 hours - but not about me!  They were both WWII veterans and exchanged war stories," Randy said.  Woody Hayes strategy of winning over Randy's family worked as Randy enrolled at Ohio State.

"Woody had a big influence on me, I grew up under Woody Hayes," Randy said. "Woody stressed the 'pay it forward' motto.  Every Friday the team would get on a bus and do some kind of community service, visiting schools, hospitals, etc."  Randy certainly gave me a different appreciation of Woody Hayes, who I had only known as a hot tempered college coach who once punched a cameraman on the sidelines.

After a stellar four year college career you think Randy would have aspirations to play in the NFL.  Not so.  "I didn't know about the NFL.  I asked a scout, 'how do I get drafted?'"  On draft day I sat in my fraternity house waiting for the phone to ring.  John Ralston called and said the Broncos had selected me as the 14th pick in the first round.  I had to look on a map to see where Denver was!"

Then Randy got a surprise.  When Randy's Dad got the news of the Broncos draft, his Dad said, "I never told you this, but I was born in Pueblo, Colorado."  Randy would later make connections with his relatives in Pueblo during his Bronco career.

I learned the Broncos were very fortunate to have Randy fall to them as the 14th pick in the 1st round.  "Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and the New Orleans Saints all expressed interest in me before the draft and I was sure I'd go to one of those teams.  Then the Lions sent one of their doctors to give me a pre-draft exam.  The doctor reported there was something wrong with my knee, and word spread to the other teams.  That scared them off drafting me in the first round (the four teams above were ahead of the Broncos in the draft order).  There was nothing wrong with my knee," Randy said.

Randy took questions from the crowd.  How was it to play under different Bronco head coaches?

"John Ralston was from the Dale Carnegie 'positive thinking' school. 'Everything is always great' he used to say.  In one game we were down 42-17 in the 4th quarter and Ralston came up to me and defensive coordinator Joe Collier to say 'we got them right where we want them!'"

"Red Miller was more like Woody Hayes.  A disciplinarian who was tough on us at times but he cared."

"Dan Reeves was more of a player's coach than Red.  I didn't have that much interaction with Dan as Joel Collier was in charge of the defense and Dan focused on the offense."

Randy relayed how there was never a great offense on his Bronco teams.  "I played 10 years with 10 different Bronco quarterbacks," he said.

Randy also showed us a highlight reel of some of his greatest plays.  That's what reminded me of old school football in seeing some of Randy's jarring hits. "We used to tackle when I played," Randy quipped.

After his talk Randy signed autographs, took pictures, and traded stories with the longtime members of the QB Club who remembered Randy's playing days.

There were some younger fans in attendance, too!

One feature of our QB Club meetings is a Bronco jersey display.  Today's was one of our best with actual game jerseys from that famed Orange Crush defense, led by Gradishar, of course!

It was a thrill for me to finally meet Randy!  I saw many of his Bronco home games from my seats in the South Stands in the 70's and early 80's.

The Bronco QB Club has given me the opportunity to meet many Bronco legends, like Randy, over the years. You, too, can be part of these Denver Bronco QB Club meetings.  Visit our website for more information.

Baseball or Football for Kyler Murray? Bronco Draft Choice Rick Leach Picked Baseball

Today Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray will decide whether to enter the NFL draft or stick to his baseball contract with the Oakland A's.  Murray is a star in both sports so the decision is not an easy one.

Murray's dilemma brought back memories of the Broncos fifth round draft choice in 1979 - quarterback Rick Leach.  Leach was a baseball and football star at the University of Michigan.  He finished third in the Heisman trophy balloting at the end of his senior season.  Different than Murray, Leach was first drafted by the Broncos, and then by the Detroit Tigers one month later (13th pick of the first round).

The appeal of playing for his home town Tigers was too much for Leach as he relayed in this 2017 interview with Mlive: "At that time, where I could stay in my home state and play if I made the Major Leagues, and where family and friends could see me was appealing," Leach said. "When I looked at the longevity factor, the injury factor and everything, I never regretted one thing about that decision."  Turns out Leach did reach the majors but was mostly a backup in his nine seasons for various teams (he was released by the Tigers after three seasons)

But what if Leach had chosen football instead?  Bronco coach Red Miller was said to have been impressed with Leach in rookie minicamp before the two sport star picked baseball.  Perhaps Leach would have been a worthy successor to the aging Craig Morton as the Broncos starter, Miller wouldn't have made the failed Matt Robinson trade in 1980 in search for a starting quarterback, and Red would have kept his job instead of being replaced by Dan Reeves as Broncos head coach in 1981.

It all worked out in the end for the Broncos, for if Leach had been a successful multiyear starter for the team they may not have traded for John Elway after the 1983 draft.  Still it would have been interesting to see how Leach would have fared with the Broncos.  "I thought I had a skill level that I would have liked to try and see what would have happened," Leach said in his Mlive interview. "But the offense I ran at Michigan and what I would have needed to play in the NFL was significantly different. But I would have loved the opportunity just to kind of prove to myself to see if I could have done it."

Will They Name an Elementary School After Fangio? New Bronco Coach Reaction

In December 1966 I was 10 years old, and an avid fan of the Denver Broncos! The Broncos had just announced Lou Saban as their new head coach.  My friend Greg called a sports talk radio show to talk about the news.  "What school do you go to?" asked the host. "Sabin Elementary" said Greg.  "That's amazing! They've already named an elementary school after him!" replied the host.

Of course Sabin Elementary was not named after Lou Saban, but the host's comment reflected the excitement the city had for the new Broncos head coach at the time.  For two 10 year old kids, and for other die hard Bronco fans, Saban gave us hope that the coaching change would transform the perennial loser Broncos to a winning franchise.  Five years later, "Half A Loaf Lou" was run out of town after a 20 win, 43 loss, 3 tie record.

Over the years I've seen other Bronco head coaches arrive with great anticipation, only to exit in disappointment after a few seasons.  John Ralston was supposed to bring his innovative Stanford offense with him from the college ranks in 1972.  Ralston left in 1976 after a player revolt. Red Miller was a career assistant coach (much like Vic Fangio today).  Red got his first head coaching job with the Broncos in 1977, had an amazing Super Bowl run that year, but a few years later was fired after some unwise personnel decisions (like trading for qb Matt Robinson from the NY Jets).  And more recently Vance Joseph was heralded as a "leader of men" when he was hired as head coach in 2017, only to be let go two years later after 11 wins in 32 games.

Today, like back in 1966, this town is sure to get its hopes up when the Broncos introduce new head coach Vic Fangio to the Bronco faithful.  I like the hire on paper.  Fangio's strong defensive background can only make the Broncos defense even better.  Gary Kubiak's return to the staff is sure to improve the Broncos coaching on the offensive side of the ball.

Somehow, though, I have a feeling Fangio won't meet the fans high expectations this year.  The Broncos have yet to find a long term answer at starting quarterback, and years of draft mistakes have hurt the team's depth.  It'll take more than one season to get a true measure of Fangio and his coaching staff.  I hope the impatient Denver fans give him that.

Vic Fangio photo courtesy of the Denver Post

(update: Gary Kubiak won't be running the Broncos offense, which may turn out well, as Fangio in consultation with John Elway can pick his own man as Bronco offensive coordinator)